Arago: 10-cent Monroe

An image of James Monroe (1758-1831) appears on the 10-cent stamp issued in 1923 as part of the new series. James Monroe served as president of the United States from 1817 until 1825 and authored the “Monroe Doctrine,” which forbade any interference by foreign governments in the western hemisphere.

Clair Aubrey Huston designed the Monroe stamp. For the vignette he used an engraving done by George F.C. Simille for the 3-cent value of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition Series. Edward J. Hein transferred Simille’s engraving to a new die and restored it for the new stamp. Simille’s engraving was probably based on an engraving by Asher Durand, which itself seems to have been based on a painting by John Vanderlyn. The frame for the Monroe stamp was engraved by Edward M. Hall and Joachim C. Benzing, while Howard I. Earle engraved the lettering in the ribbon.

The registry and special delivery rates were each ten cents when the stamp was issued, so it was frequently used to pay for those services. Printed initially on the flat plate press, it was subsequently printed on the Stickney rotary press in both sheet and coil formats.